Archive: Jul 2015

A veteran Esthetician, Diane Raisbeck has been with Potosa Spa since 2012. Diane is from Hazel Green, Wisconsin and graduated from Capri College. Read on as she shares unique beauty and wellness tips that can be incorporated into your daily routine.
Joined the team: In August of 2011Hometown: Hazel Green, WisconsinBackground/Schooling: “I graduated from Lancaster High School and went on to earn my certification in Esthetics from Capri College.”Name one step of your beauty routine that you could never skip: “Moisturizing my skin in the morning and at night.”What is your favorite spa treatment? “Facials, of course!”What is your favorite beauty product? “Milk and Honey Body Scrub and Butter.”What wellness and/or relaxation strategies do you implement in your day-to-day life? “In the morning, I wake up and drink an 8 0z. glass of water and do 20 minutes of yoga.”What is your favorite beauty tip/trick? “I apply two shades of lipstick to get the color I want.”What do you love most about your job? “I love giving clients the best facial suited to their skin type and then educating them on at-home tips that they can incorporate into their daily routine.”Is there anything else that you would like to share? “Skin is the body’s biggest organ. No matter what age you are, be sure to give your skin the attention that it deserves.”

Learn more about Potosa Spa by visiting www.potosaspa.com or call 563.588.5570 to schedule your next appointment.

If you ever have a question about Hotel Julien Dubuque (or most anything else, for that matter!), Annette Jones will know the answer. Having worked for the Fischer Companies for the past 19 years, Annette’s experiences with Hotel Julien Dubuque extend well beyond the remodel that was completed in 2009 and she is a great person to chat with about the history of the property.

Learn more about Annette in her feature below. We are so lucky that she is part of our team!

How long have you been with Fischer Companies? “19 years.”Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to the industry. “Went to school for Accounting and worked in that field for a while. I then went to Capri and got my cosmetology license and managed several salons here in Dubuque. After the salon I was at closed I went back into Accounting and have been here ever since.”What are you most passionate about professionally? “Learning new things everyday.”What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend? “Love traveling to tropical places. What’s a free weekend?”What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area? “Spending time with family and friends – doesn’t really matter what you are doing.”What do you love most about your job? “My boss (and the other people too) ;-)”What is your personal motto? “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”When asked to describe yourself, what do you say? “I love to make people laugh.”

The next time that you visit the Riverboat Lounge, be sure to say “hi” to Brian Neis. As you will read in his “Meet the Team” feature below, Brian is passionate about his position as Hotel Julien Dubuque’s Beverage Manager and the significant role that Food and Beverage establishments play in the creation of some of life’s fondest memories. Read on to learn about the path that led Brian to Hotel Julien Dubuque, his affinity for classic literature, and his favorite craft cocktail and wine selections on the Riverboat Lounge menu!

How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque? “5.5 years.”What path brought you to this industry? “I started in the Food and Beverage industry when I was 14 years old. I did everything from wash dishes, buss tables, mop floors, assist the cooks, and eventually assist the bartenders. When I decided to attend college, I also decided to bartend part-time to support myself. I graduated college, but instead of pursuing my field of study, I stayed in the Food and Beverage industry and began managing the bar where I was originally bartending. When Caroline’s Restaurant was in need of a supervisor, I applied and have been here ever since. I have been Hotel Julien Dubuque’s Beverage Manager for the past 2.5 years.”What are you most passionate about professionally? “Many of our fondest memories are associated with dining or visiting a drinking establishment. Wedding proposals, catching up with someone you have not seen for a while, celebrating a job promotion – all often take place in this environment. It is hard to ignore the intense gratification I feel when I am in a room full of people sharing special moments. The laughter, smiles, hugs, and positive energy are infectious. How can you not love that?”What is your favorite way to spend your free time? “Spending time with family and friends is always a priority. During the winter months, I love to read classic world literature like Homer, Cervantes, Dostoyevsky, etc., but in the warmer months, I want to be boating on the Mississippi, riding my Harley, and taking 10 mile walks.”What are some of your favorite aspects of the “New Experience” in the Riverboat Lounge? “I love it when someone tells me they approve of our new approach. Having more access to the River Terrace makes a monumental difference and live music 5 nights per week is very fun.”What is your favorite craft cocktail on the new summer menu? Favorite wine featured in the winestation? “Peach Sangria. Chateau Graysac Bordeaux.”Do you have a personal motto? “Never slam closed any door that you may someday want to walk through.”
When asked to share a unique fact about yourself, what do you say? “I acted in Hollywood, California. I was a mummy on stage at Universal Studios for about 5 minutes.”

Throughout Hotel Julien Dubuque, you will find an eclectic mix of historic artifacts thanks to avid collector and grandfather of the hotel’s current owners, Louis H. Pfohl. According to his family, he collected what he liked and found ingenious ways to give new life to historic finds. We encourage you to explore the treasure trove of artifacts housed within Hotel Julien Dubuque and check back here to read about the hotel’s fascinating history on the corner of 2nd and Main.

These stunning stained glass windows can be found in Caroline’s Restaurant and were counted among Louis Pfohl’s most treasured finds. Originally hailing from a castle in the south of Germany, the windows depict Four Austrian Kings and have been attributed to the 16th Century.

Prior to Louis Pfohl’s acquisition, the windows overlooked a great stone Gothic staircase in the residence of Arthur Curtis James, located on the corner of 67th and Park Avenue in New York City. Mr. James, who accumulated a fortune of several hundred million in railroads and copper, is said to have acquired the windows around 1895. Louis Pfohl purchased them in the early 1960s when the James estate was torn down to make way for a skyscraper.

“We love Hotel Julien so much and had such a wonderful experience, I would love to share our memories and photos with you!!

This June, my ‘bachelor from Iowa’ Jeff and I will celebrate 5 years together. Every year we sit down to watch our wedding video together and reminisce of the joy and magic we experienced at our wedding reception held at Hotel Julien. The day was gloomy with mist, a tornado warning in the area that evening but no one was going to rain on our parade! The room was filled with loved ones from near and far, Zac Brown Band playing in the background, the dance floor was full all night long and the beer/wine was flowing until midnight! Before we could even ask, the staff had already performed the needed task for us!

Both true ‘Dubuquers’, lovers of Happy Joe’s pizza, avid Euchre players and a history of getting our dance on at the Riverboat Lounge in our younger years, we have formed our perfect team with our beautiful daughters Harper and Charlotte and our goldendoodle named Coach. Kudos to the wonderful staff and service we received during the planning process, the night before our wedding and the night of our wedding. We are forever grateful to share these memories and photos of this beautiful venue to our friends and family! Thank you will never be enough!

P.S. Special shout out to Chuck for keeping everyone in line that night! We were those annoying kids in college years ago chanting ‘Chuck, Chuck, Chuck’ when he was around, god love him! Oh but those days are past and so glad we were able to capture that photo with him on our special day.”

In celebration of our 100th anniversary, we are looking back at the significant events that have taken place at Hotel Julien Dubuque throughout history. If you were married at the hotel (pre or post-renovation), we would love to hear your story! Learn more about our “Celebrating Ours, Celebrating Yours” contest and how you can enter here.